Schneck on Conscience Rights

In case you missed it on our NCR homepage, Professor Stephen Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies at CUA, has a fine essay on the need to include broad conscience protections in the mandated coverage plan forthcoming from the Department of Health and Human Services.A source close to the negotiations expressed confidence that the final decision by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, due out next Monday, will allow Catholic organizations to continue their missions and ministry, that the conscience protections will be strong enough. Certainly, as Schneck points out, the political prospects for the new rules - and for Obama's re-election - will only be strengthened by including such conscience protections.